Lawrence Roberts - Revision history

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	<u>'''Further Information on Lawrence A. Roberts and the D-Day Invasion'''</u> - Contributed by Alan D. Roberts		<u>'''Further Information on Lawrence A. Roberts and the D-Day Invasion'''</u> - Contributed by Alan D. Roberts

	Lawrence, one of twelve children, was born in [[~~Loon Lake\|~~Loon Lake]], New York in 1924 and the Roberts family relocated to Saranac Lake sometime after 1930. Many of his older siblings had grown up, married, started families, and relocated to the Auburn, New York - Finger Lakes region. Lawrence moved to this area in the early 1940s and was staying with his sister's family and attended Port Byron High School and then worked in the defense industry in Auburn. He was inducted into the service in Auburn and was placed in the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion with many other young soldiers from the Auburn to Buffalo, New York region.		Lawrence, one of twelve children, was born in [[Loon Lake]], New York in 1924 and the Roberts family relocated to Saranac Lake sometime after 1930. Many of his older siblings had grown up, married, started families, and relocated to the Auburn, New York - Finger Lakes region. Lawrence moved to this area in the early 1940s and was staying with his sister's family and attended Port Byron High School and then worked in the defense industry in Auburn. He was inducted into the service in Auburn and was placed in the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion with many other young soldiers from the Auburn to Buffalo, New York region.

	In 1994 for the 50th Anniversary of a D-Day a plaque honoring Lawrence and five others who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country that day from the 299th, was dedicated at the Cayuga County Courthouse in Auburn NY. A reunion was held of the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion and my mother, Martile (Midge) Roberts, was an invited guest to represent the Roberts family at this event. She met many of the veterans who served with Lawrence on that historic day and they shared their experiences and recollections with her. I should have written down or somehow recorded some of this information she received as not long after this reunion my mother passed away.		In 1994 for the 50th Anniversary of a D-Day a plaque honoring Lawrence and five others who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country that day from the 299th, was dedicated at the Cayuga County Courthouse in Auburn NY. A reunion was held of the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion and my mother, Martile (Midge) Roberts, was an invited guest to represent the Roberts family at this event. She met many of the veterans who served with Lawrence on that historic day and they shared their experiences and recollections with her. I should have written down or somehow recorded some of this information she received as not long after this reunion my mother passed away.

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	'''You Know What... ?'''		'''You Know What... ?'''

	[[File:Lawrence.png\|right\|thumb\|''[[Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005]]<br>By [[~~Howard Riley\|~~Howard Riley]]		[[File:Lawrence.png\|right\|thumb\|''[[Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005]]<br>By [[Howard Riley]]

	…Pfc. Lawrence Roberts, 20, of [[3 South Edward Street\|3 South Edward Street]], a member of the Army Engineer Corps, was killed in action "as the first casualty of the French invasion from this village."		…Pfc. Lawrence Roberts, 20, of [[3 South Edward Street\|3 South Edward Street]], a member of the Army Engineer Corps, was killed in action "as the first casualty of the French invasion from this village."

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	'''Children: '''None		'''Children: '''None

	'''Private Lawrence Roberts''' was a [[~~World War II veteran\|~~World War II veteran]]; he was killed in action.		'''Private Lawrence Roberts''' was a [[World War II veteran]]; he was killed in action.

	Sibling to [[Francis Roberts\|Francis Roberts]] and [[Paul F. Roberts\|Paul Roberts]]		Sibling to [[Francis Roberts\|Francis Roberts]] and [[Paul F. Roberts\|Paul Roberts]]

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	''Dear Alan, ''		''Dear Alan, ''

	''Lawrence was in A Company and in my platoon. His job on landing was to destroy the obstacles that were at the waters edge. The team consisted of 5 Army and 7or 8 Navy men. The army men,all from A Company were Bill Scanlon, Carl Davies, Kenneth Fatty, Lawrence Roberts, all KIAs and Dominic Debenedetto. Dom was wounded is from Auburn, NY and is involved in the ceremonies (Note: 299th Reunions). I was in the same assault boat #12,with this group. The rest of the men, about 20, moved away from the water's edge to other obstacles on the beach. I believe they layed their charges on the obstacles and they went off prematurely. Four or five Navy men were killed and a few wounded. I remember your Uncle, but can't tell to much about him. All this happened 65 years ago this June. I may have a [http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/PhotosFtPierceFlorida.htm picture of your Uncle and an A Company group picture taken in Ft.Pierce,FL]. I winter in Florida and will be able to search for them when I return to Buffalo in May. My wife and I plan to be in Auburn this June.<br><br>Sincerely, ~~Mich''''ael A''''ccordino~~''		''Lawrence was in A Company and in my platoon. His job on landing was to destroy the obstacles that were at the waters edge. The team consisted of 5 Army and 7or 8 Navy men. The army men,all from A Company were Bill Scanlon, Carl Davies, Kenneth Fatty, Lawrence Roberts, all KIAs and Dominic Debenedetto. Dom was wounded is from Auburn, NY and is involved in the ceremonies (Note: 299th Reunions). I was in the same assault boat #12,with this group. The rest of the men, about 20, moved away from the water's edge to other obstacles on the beach. I believe they layed their charges on the obstacles and they went off prematurely. Four or five Navy men were killed and a few wounded. I remember your Uncle, but can't tell to much about him. All this happened 65 years ago this June. I may have a [http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/PhotosFtPierceFlorida.htm picture of your Uncle and an A Company group picture taken in Ft.Pierce,FL]. I winter in Florida and will be able to search for them when I return to Buffalo in May. My wife and I plan to be in Auburn this June.<br><br>Sincerely, Michael Accordino''

	[[File:MichaelAccordinoGallery01.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Michael Accordino]]		[[File:MichaelAccordinoGallery01.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Michael Accordino]]
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	On the way to the Beach soldiers were standing on a tank and waving and yelling frantically. The helmsman steered the LCM to them and asked them what the problem was. They were sinking. The helmsman said he couldn't help them and he continued to the beach. He should not have done that. His job was to get us to the beach. There were rescue people out there to take care of that matter. Now there were 28 to 30 tanks that went into the water and "swim to the beach". These were DD Tanks ( Duel Drive ) fitted with a canvas device that was to keep the water out. The Channel was rough and they took in water. Only two of those tanks made it in, the rest sank losing the crews in most cases. The ones that made it to the beach were knocked out immediately. In fact I didn't see any operative tank on the beach the whole day. Going into the beach we watched in fascination as shells from the Battle Ship Texas and rockets from landing barges hitting the beach. What a sight. We cheered and I thought it was going to be an easy day. of course it wasn't.		On the way to the Beach soldiers were standing on a tank and waving and yelling frantically. The helmsman steered the LCM to them and asked them what the problem was. They were sinking. The helmsman said he couldn't help them and he continued to the beach. He should not have done that. His job was to get us to the beach. There were rescue people out there to take care of that matter. Now there were 28 to 30 tanks that went into the water and "swim to the beach". These were DD Tanks ( Duel Drive ) fitted with a canvas device that was to keep the water out. The Channel was rough and they took in water. Only two of those tanks made it in, the rest sank losing the crews in most cases. The ones that made it to the beach were knocked out immediately. In fact I didn't see any operative tank on the beach the whole day. Going into the beach we watched in fascination as shells from the Battle Ship Texas and rockets from landing barges hitting the beach. What a sight. We cheered and I thought it was going to be an easy day. of course it wasn't.

	As we were getting closer I strapped two packs of demolition on my body each totaling 20 pounds, back and front. German shells began bursting about us. When we got closer the ramp was lowered, but we had a job to do first. We had to get that rubber boat with all its supplies off the LCM. Now remember we never trained for this. We got a hold of that boat and heaved and hoed and it wouldn't budge. All this time the Germans were trying to put a shell in our boat. Some one yelled leave it and we did. The helmsman didn't like it but off we went. I was in the front of the boat along with another soldier. We were the first off that boat. When I jumped and landed in the water and went under. The front pack hit my Life Belt setting off a charge that inflated it I was able to get my feet to the bottom to head to the beach. When I came up the soldier that jumped off with me was alongside me and he was crying. I asked "what's the matter?" I soon found out. Machine gun bullets were landing all around us. I moved through the water to the shoreline there was no other way to go, unless I wanted to swim back to England. When I reached the shore I laid down to remove the demolition packs from my body.. I then heard a voice behind me asking if I was ok. It was Billy Scanlon Who was from my hometown, Buffalo, NY. Part of our team was made up of strong swimmers who were to blow up the water obstacles and the rest of us were to blow up the obstacles further up the beach. I noticed that his men were crowded around him and I knew that was a bad situation because they would draw fire. I got out of there and moved away from them. That group was made up of both Army and Navy men. That group lost KIA 4 army ''(~~''''~~Bill Scanlon, Carl Davies, Kenneth Fatty, and Lawrence Roberts) ''and 6 Navy men and a few wounded. What we think happened is that they set their charges on a number of obstacles and they went off prematurely. Billy was killed and is buried in Kenmore, NY.		As we were getting closer I strapped two packs of demolition on my body each totaling 20 pounds, back and front. German shells began bursting about us. When we got closer the ramp was lowered, but we had a job to do first. We had to get that rubber boat with all its supplies off the LCM. Now remember we never trained for this. We got a hold of that boat and heaved and hoed and it wouldn't budge. All this time the Germans were trying to put a shell in our boat. Some one yelled leave it and we did. The helmsman didn't like it but off we went. I was in the front of the boat along with another soldier. We were the first off that boat. When I jumped and landed in the water and went under. The front pack hit my Life Belt setting off a charge that inflated it I was able to get my feet to the bottom to head to the beach. When I came up the soldier that jumped off with me was alongside me and he was crying. I asked "what's the matter?" I soon found out. Machine gun bullets were landing all around us. I moved through the water to the shoreline there was no other way to go, unless I wanted to swim back to England. When I reached the shore I laid down to remove the demolition packs from my body.. I then heard a voice behind me asking if I was ok. It was Billy Scanlon Who was from my hometown, Buffalo, NY. Part of our team was made up of strong swimmers who were to blow up the water obstacles and the rest of us were to blow up the obstacles further up the beach. I noticed that his men were crowded around him and I knew that was a bad situation because they would draw fire. I got out of there and moved away from them. That group was made up of both Army and Navy men. That group lost KIA 4 army ''(Bill Scanlon, Carl Davies, Kenneth Fatty, and Lawrence Roberts) ''and 6 Navy men and a few wounded. What we think happened is that they set their charges on a number of obstacles and they went off prematurely. Billy was killed and is buried in Kenmore, NY.

	I got to an obstacle and laid my charges on it to blow. Our prima could hook up to it and blow the demolition off all at once. His name, Bill McCue, was walking upright unwinding a spool of prima cord. I yelled to him to get down, but all he did was say the word that won the war and kept on going. He never got as much as a scratch. I tied my charges to the prima cord and then moved to the dune line. As I was front of me. I thought this guy is going to raise his sights and get me. What I did is turn around back to an obstacle I passed and got behind it. While lying there three soldiers, with a large spool of wire, I think they were signal corp came alongside me to my right about 10 yards away. In the distance I could see one of our dozers that was to help clear the obstacles being hampered by infantrymen hiding behind it for protection. Jerry Burt, our squad leader was trying to direct it and chase away the infantrymen but they wouldn't move. The operator had to abandon it after it received a hit. I asked the soldiers, with the spool, what they were doing there? They couldn't answer me a mortar got them. All that time on the beach I was a loner, I wanted no one near me. The only one that got close to me was Bill McCue, the prima cord man. I decided to get out of there and advanced to the dune Line that afforded some protection. There I found some of my Buddies, some wounded and some shell shocked. Some of the wounded were brought to the Dune Line. In most battles and actions wounded are normally brought to the rear but in an invasion the only place and the safest place is toward the enemy. We laid on that Dune Line for a couple of hours and then moved up the slope and dug in. The spot were I dug in is below where the American Cemetery is located. We sat there the rest of the day and watched as the infantry and other troops tried to land.		I got to an obstacle and laid my charges on it to blow. Our prima could hook up to it and blow the demolition off all at once. His name, Bill McCue, was walking upright unwinding a spool of prima cord. I yelled to him to get down, but all he did was say the word that won the war and kept on going. He never got as much as a scratch. I tied my charges to the prima cord and then moved to the dune line. As I was front of me. I thought this guy is going to raise his sights and get me. What I did is turn around back to an obstacle I passed and got behind it. While lying there three soldiers, with a large spool of wire, I think they were signal corp came alongside me to my right about 10 yards away. In the distance I could see one of our dozers that was to help clear the obstacles being hampered by infantrymen hiding behind it for protection. Jerry Burt, our squad leader was trying to direct it and chase away the infantrymen but they wouldn't move. The operator had to abandon it after it received a hit. I asked the soldiers, with the spool, what they were doing there? They couldn't answer me a mortar got them. All that time on the beach I was a loner, I wanted no one near me. The only one that got close to me was Bill McCue, the prima cord man. I decided to get out of there and advanced to the dune Line that afforded some protection. There I found some of my Buddies, some wounded and some shell shocked. Some of the wounded were brought to the Dune Line. In most battles and actions wounded are normally brought to the rear but in an invasion the only place and the safest place is toward the enemy. We laid on that Dune Line for a couple of hours and then moved up the slope and dug in. The spot were I dug in is below where the American Cemetery is located. We sat there the rest of the day and watched as the infantry and other troops tried to land.

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	''[[~~Adirondack Daily Enterprise\|~~Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005		''[[Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005

	'''You Know What... ?'''		'''You Know What... ?'''

	[[File:Lawrence.png\|right\|thumb\|''[[~~Adirondack Daily Enterprise\|~~Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005]]<br>By [[Howard Riley\|Howard Riley]]		[[File:Lawrence.png\|right\|thumb\|''[[Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005]]<br>By [[Howard Riley\|Howard Riley]]

	…Pfc. Lawrence Roberts, 20, of [[3 South Edward Street\|3 South Edward Street]], a member of the Army Engineer Corps, was killed in action "as the first casualty of the French invasion from this village."		…Pfc. Lawrence Roberts, 20, of [[3 South Edward Street\|3 South Edward Street]], a member of the Army Engineer Corps, was killed in action "as the first casualty of the French invasion from this village."

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	'''Born: '''February 7th, 1924, in Inman (Loon Lake), Franklin County, New York.		'''Born: '''February 7th, 1924, in Inman (Loon Lake), Franklin County, New York.

	'''Died: June 6th, 1944, in D-Day invasion of Normandy France on Omaha Beach''' - "A" Company of the [[http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/MainHome.htm\|299th Combat Engineer Battalion]]. First Wave to hit the beaches of Normandy. He is resting peacefully with his comrades at the [[http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe\normandy-american-cemetery\|Normandy American Cemetery]] (Photo Below).		'''Died: June 6th, 1944, in D-Day invasion of Normandy France on Omaha Beach''' - "A" Company of the [http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/MainHome.htm 299th Combat Engineer Battalion]. First Wave to hit the beaches of Normandy. He is resting peacefully with his comrades at the [http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe\normandy-american-cemetery Normandy American Cemetery] (Photo Below).

	'''Married: '''No		'''Married: '''No
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	[[File:CayugaCountyMemorial.JPG\|right\|thumb\|\|299th Combat Engineer Battalion Veterans at Memorial in Auburn, NY From left: Sam Trinca, Chet DePalma, Tony DeTomaso, Jim Burke, and Chuck Hurlbut.]]		[[File:CayugaCountyMemorial.JPG\|right\|thumb\|\|299th Combat Engineer Battalion Veterans at Memorial in Auburn, NY From left: Sam Trinca, Chet DePalma, Tony DeTomaso, Jim Burke, and Chuck Hurlbut.]]

	In 2009 I found a web site for the [[http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/MainHome.htm\|299th Combat Engineer Battalion]] and made an inquiry to the web administrator as to whether any of the members had any recollections of my uncle and the events of D-Day. I received a response from Mr. Michael Accordino who was in the same platoon and landing craft as Lawrence. I appreciate his response as he passed away on June 19th 2012. His response to me was as follows:		In 2009 I found a web site for the [http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/MainHome.htm 299th Combat Engineer Battalion] and made an inquiry to the web administrator as to whether any of the members had any recollections of my uncle and the events of D-Day. I received a response from Mr. Michael Accordino who was in the same platoon and landing craft as Lawrence. I appreciate his response as he passed away on June 19th 2012. His response to me was as follows:

	''March 13, 2009''		''March 13, 2009''
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	''Dear Alan, ''		''Dear Alan, ''

	''Lawrence was in A Company and in my platoon. His job on landing was to destroy the obstacles that were at the waters edge. The team consisted of 5 Army and 7or 8 Navy men. The army men,all from A Company were Bill Scanlon, Carl Davies, Kenneth Fatty, Lawrence Roberts, all KIAs and Dominic Debenedetto. Dom was wounded is from Auburn, NY and is involved in the ceremonies (Note: 299th Reunions). I was in the same assault boat #12,with this group. The rest of the men, about 20, moved away from the water's edge to other obstacles on the beach. I believe they layed their charges on the obstacles and they went off prematurely. Four or five Navy men were killed and a few wounded. I remember your Uncle, but can't tell to much about him. All this happened 65 years ago this June. I may have a [[http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/PhotosFtPierceFlorida.htm\|picture of your Uncle and an A Company group picture taken in Ft.Pierce,FL]]. I winter in Florida and will be able to search for them when I return to Buffalo in May. My wife and I plan to be in Auburn this June.<br><br>Sincerely, Mich''''ael A''''ccordino''		''Lawrence was in A Company and in my platoon. His job on landing was to destroy the obstacles that were at the waters edge. The team consisted of 5 Army and 7or 8 Navy men. The army men,all from A Company were Bill Scanlon, Carl Davies, Kenneth Fatty, Lawrence Roberts, all KIAs and Dominic Debenedetto. Dom was wounded is from Auburn, NY and is involved in the ceremonies (Note: 299th Reunions). I was in the same assault boat #12,with this group. The rest of the men, about 20, moved away from the water's edge to other obstacles on the beach. I believe they layed their charges on the obstacles and they went off prematurely. Four or five Navy men were killed and a few wounded. I remember your Uncle, but can't tell to much about him. All this happened 65 years ago this June. I may have a [http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/PhotosFtPierceFlorida.htm picture of your Uncle and an A Company group picture taken in Ft.Pierce,FL]. I winter in Florida and will be able to search for them when I return to Buffalo in May. My wife and I plan to be in Auburn this June.<br><br>Sincerely, Mich''''ael A''''ccordino''

	[[File:MichaelAccordinoGallery01.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Michael Accordino]]		[[File:MichaelAccordinoGallery01.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Michael Accordino]]
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	The Following is a more detailed recollection of these events written by Mr. Accordino and found on the [[http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/HistoryAccordino.htm\|299th Combat Engineer Battalion]] site.		The Following is a more detailed recollection of these events written by Mr. Accordino and found on the [http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/HistoryAccordino.htm 299th Combat Engineer Battalion] site.

	<u>'''WWII - "First On Omaha / D-Day "'''</u>		<u>'''WWII - "First On Omaha / D-Day "'''</u>

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	[[File:Lawrence A Roberts AutoEnhSep.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Lawrence A. Roberts - Camp White, Oregon - "A" Company - 299th Combat Engineer Battalion]]~~'''~~		[[File:Lawrence A Roberts AutoEnhSep.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Lawrence A. Roberts - Camp White, Oregon - "A" Company - 299th Combat Engineer Battalion]]

	Born: '''February 7th, 1924, in Inman (Loon Lake), Franklin County, New York.		'''Born: '''February 7th, 1924, in Inman (Loon Lake), Franklin County, New York.

	'''Died: June 6th, 1944, in D-Day invasion of Normandy France on Omaha Beach''' - "A" Company of the [[http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/MainHome.htm\|299th Combat Engineer Battalion]]. First Wave to hit the beaches of Normandy. He is resting peacefully with his comrades at the [[http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe\normandy-american-cemetery\|Normandy American Cemetery]] (Photo Below).		'''Died: June 6th, 1944, in D-Day invasion of Normandy France on Omaha Beach''' - "A" Company of the [[http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/MainHome.htm\|299th Combat Engineer Battalion]]. First Wave to hit the beaches of Normandy. He is resting peacefully with his comrades at the [[http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe\normandy-american-cemetery\|Normandy American Cemetery]] (Photo Below).

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	[[File:Lawrence A Roberts AutoEnhSep.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Lawrence A. Roberts - Camp White, Oregon - "A" Company - 299th Combat Engineer Battalion]]'''Born: '''February 7th, 1924, in Inman (Loon Lake), Franklin County, New York.		[[File:Lawrence A Roberts AutoEnhSep.jpg\|right\|thumb\|\|Lawrence A. Roberts - Camp White, Oregon - "A" Company - 299th Combat Engineer Battalion]]'''

			Born: '''February 7th, 1924, in Inman (Loon Lake), Franklin County, New York.

	'''Died: June 6th, 1944, in D-Day invasion of Normandy France on Omaha Beach''' - "A" Company of the [[http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/MainHome.htm\|299th Combat Engineer Battalion]]. First Wave to hit the beaches of Normandy. He is resting peacefully with his comrades at the [[http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe\normandy-american-cemetery\|Normandy American Cemetery]] (Photo Below).		'''Died: June 6th, 1944, in D-Day invasion of Normandy France on Omaha Beach''' - "A" Company of the [[http://www.299thcombatengineers.com/MainHome.htm\|299th Combat Engineer Battalion]]. First Wave to hit the beaches of Normandy. He is resting peacefully with his comrades at the [[http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/europe\normandy-american-cemetery\|Normandy American Cemetery]] (Photo Below).

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	## Comments		===Comments===

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	'''Children: '''None		'''Children: '''None

	'''Private Lawrence Roberts''' was a [[World~~%20War%20II%20veteran~~\|World War II veteran]]; he was killed in action.		'''Private Lawrence Roberts''' was a [[World War II veteran\|World War II veteran]]; he was killed in action.

	Sibling to [[Francis~~%20Roberts~~\|Francis Roberts]] and [[Paul~~%20F~~.~~%20Roberts~~\|Paul Roberts]]		Sibling to [[Francis Roberts\|Francis Roberts]] and [[Paul F. Roberts\|Paul Roberts]]
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	''[[Adirondack~~%20Daily%20Enterprise~~\|Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005		''[[Adirondack Daily Enterprise\|Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005

	'''You Know What... ?'''		'''You Know What... ?'''

	[[File:Lawrence.png\|right\|thumb\|''[[Adirondack Daily Enterprise\|Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005]]<br>By [[Howard~~%20Riley~~\|Howard Riley]]		[[File:Lawrence.png\|right\|thumb\|''[[Adirondack Daily Enterprise\|Adirondack Daily Enterprise]]'', June 4, 2005]]<br>By [[Howard Riley\|Howard Riley]]

	…Pfc. Lawrence Roberts, 20, of [[3~~%20South%20Edward%20Street~~\|3 South Edward Street]], a member of the Army Engineer Corps, was killed in action "as the first casualty of the French invasion from this village."		…Pfc. Lawrence Roberts, 20, of [[3 South Edward Street\|3 South Edward Street]], a member of the Army Engineer Corps, was killed in action "as the first casualty of the French invasion from this village."


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	<u>'''Further Information on Lawrence A. Roberts and the D-Day Invasion'''</u> - Contributed by Alan D. Roberts		<u>'''Further Information on Lawrence A. Roberts and the D-Day Invasion'''</u> - Contributed by Alan D. Roberts

	Lawrence, one of twelve children, was born in [[Loon~~%20Lake~~\|Loon Lake]], New York in 1924 and the Roberts family relocated to Saranac Lake sometime after 1930. Many of his older siblings had grown up, married, started families, and relocated to the Auburn, New York - Finger Lakes region. Lawrence moved to this area in the early 1940s and was staying with his sister's family and attended Port Byron High School and then worked in the defense industry in Auburn. He was inducted into the service in Auburn and was placed in the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion with many other young soldiers from the Auburn to Buffalo, New York region.		Lawrence, one of twelve children, was born in [[Loon Lake\|Loon Lake]], New York in 1924 and the Roberts family relocated to Saranac Lake sometime after 1930. Many of his older siblings had grown up, married, started families, and relocated to the Auburn, New York - Finger Lakes region. Lawrence moved to this area in the early 1940s and was staying with his sister's family and attended Port Byron High School and then worked in the defense industry in Auburn. He was inducted into the service in Auburn and was placed in the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion with many other young soldiers from the Auburn to Buffalo, New York region.

	In 1994 for the 50th Anniversary of a D-Day a plaque honoring Lawrence and five others who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country that day from the 299th, was dedicated at the Cayuga County Courthouse in Auburn NY. A reunion was held of the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion and my mother, Martile (Midge) Roberts, was an invited guest to represent the Roberts family at this event. She met many of the veterans who served with Lawrence on that historic day and they shared their experiences and recollections with her. I should have written down or somehow recorded some of this information she received as not long after this reunion my mother passed away.		In 1994 for the 50th Anniversary of a D-Day a plaque honoring Lawrence and five others who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country that day from the 299th, was dedicated at the Cayuga County Courthouse in Auburn NY. A reunion was held of the 299th Combat Engineer Battalion and my mother, Martile (Midge) Roberts, was an invited guest to represent the Roberts family at this event. She met many of the veterans who served with Lawrence on that historic day and they shared their experiences and recollections with her. I should have written down or somehow recorded some of this information she received as not long after this reunion my mother passed away.